Solid Wood Slabs (Dining)

Daily:

It's simple - just treat it like a normal table that is important to you. Wipe up after every meal, keep it clean and dry. Avoid dragging plates on the surface to minimise scratches, and if there's hard debris like bones, remember to gently sweep off before wiping.

Annual:

We recommend an annual oiling with the Maintenance Oil. It's kind of like waxing your car - it's not necessary and your table won't fall apart, but doing it will strengthen the finish and help it withstand accidents a lot better.

Repairs:

Serious stains like permanent marker and plant pots will require solvents to remove. Rubio has a range of solvents to assist with this, please enquire with us for specific advice. Note that solvents will damage the finish, and it is recommended to oil the table after use.

Deep scratches will generally require sanding to remove, and if it's too deep it may need to be filled instead of removed. Hairline scratches (the kind that cannot be felt), can generally be minimised with a fresh application of oil.

Crevices and surface "stretch marks" from the wood's expansion and contraction can be filled with wood putty and sealed with oil.

Click here to read about product care!

Rubio Monocoat is a Belgian brand of hardwax oil, which we use to finish our hardwood slabs for furniture use.

It is VOC-free which is not only great for the environment and your home, it also makes a safer working environment for our craftsmen.

When applied correctly, we have found that Rubio Monocoat is better than other finishes (especially lacquer-type finishes) in terms of heat and stain resistance. The brand has also invested in creating a suite of DIY-friendly repair solvents and oils, making personal maintenance of this precious resource more accessible than ever before.

Click here to learn about easy DIY maintenance.

We get different wood species from different parts of the world. Our Walnut, Oak and Ash wood is typically North American, while our Suar, Teak and Mahogany typically hails from South America or Indonesia. We also stock a special selection of African Sapele and Tali!

We currently do not carry Singapore wood (except for one very special Mahogany log), as it difficult to dry wood in Singapore.

We don't recommend slab wood for outdoor use, and our warranty does not cover it.

Wood is very responsive to heat and moisture, and for this reason you'll notice that most outdoor furniture builds use a slat format that is designed to allow rainwater runoff and also space for the wood to expand and contract without hurting the structure.

Exposure to UV and rain also weakens wood fibres, making it less elastic and more susceptible to structural damage over time.

Nonetheless, many of our clients do use it in covered balconies. The rate of wear and tear (and therefore, maintenance) will depend on the particular exposure of your balcony. Do note that we are on the equator - the sun does oscillate over the year and ranges in intensity, so everyone's experience of "outdoor" will differ.

Click here to view our write up on outdoor use!

For the purposes of dining table use, there is no meaningful "best".

When prepared, cared for and stored correctly, all our hardwood species will serve you for generations. There is a slight difference in density between the wood types (which makes wood such as Ash slightly more difficult to scratch), but it is not a noticeable difference.

Instead, the most meaningful difference between these wood types is their aesthetic. They are not quite interchangeable - each species brings a different vibe and tone to the room, depending on what you have envisioned.

Click here to read our thoughts on the matter!